My posts light your way pop to rock, r&b to soul, avant-garde to metal music. I don't like those categories, i only listen to music as if it's original without leaving the main idea. When it comes to your favorite records or bands, it's not easy to count all of them with less words. However i can say that Melvins is the most unique band makes me love black music, hard music, guitar solos and darkness. Houdini offers flawless play to your ears, it's not fulfilled with moanings like in some exhausting type of metal music that they call death metal, black metal. Goin' Blind which was written previously by Gene Simmons (of Kiss) is Houdini's keytrack with Honey Bucket and amazing closing track Spread Eagle Beagle. Do yourself a favor, and have Houdini!

Melvins - Goin' Blind

Labels: 90's Music, cover cover cover

When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

One of my favorite pop songs Umbrella is turned to a rock melody by The Manics, and it's been good!

Manic Street Preachers - Umbrella

Labels: cover cover cover

One of my recent favorite bands Xiu Xiu records another awesome thing, which is named "Women as Lovers", and included with a new Under Pressure (Queen&Bowie) cover. Honestly i first listened up this amazing cover, it's been an extra ordinary and successful version than any other Under Pressure covers. If you consider listening previous untouchable, deep and unapproachable Xiu Xiu albums, this album is more reachable than any of them. It's full of emotion, and i really have to appreciate these tracks, each of them is charming. I can't say that this is the best expression of Xiu Xiu's sad music, but Jamie Stewart's confrontational vocals are the best for sure. With this new album, i can say this the best new music. My song picks are: Gayle Lynn, Master of the bump, No friend oh!, The Leash, Under Pressure feat. Michael Gira.

Xiu Xiu - Gayle Lynn
Xiu Xiu - Under Pressure feat. Michael Gira [Queen&Bowie cover] *removed by label request

Xiu Xiu - I do what i want when i want

more:
Xiu Xiu - Remixed & Covered

Labels: cover cover cover, new music, recommended music

Jukebox is the eighth album by American singer/songwriter Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power). Except for "Song To Bobby", the album is comprised entirely of cover songs. Chan Marshall stops time. She sits at a piano or lays her guitar across her lap, and whether it’s a noisy club overflowing with drunks or a coffee house full of laptoppers, Chan Marshall draws all the attention in the room and makes the world stop spinning. As Cat Power, Marshall’s music seems to rise from nowhere, envelop the room, then vanish; listeners know they’ve been hit by something but they’re not sure what.

According to Matador Records, there will be a limited-edition silver foil deluxe package containing a bonus disc with five extra songs. You can download and listen my track picks from Jukebox. Song To Bobby sounds perfect, a very new mellow tune like we used to listen from her. Other new song which is called "Metal Heart" a very passionate rock ballad, you know Cat Power doesn't disappoint. If you ask me to say which cover is the best, it's originally by Joni Mitchell, yes the song is Blue. One of the best song of all time.

Guest appearances: Spooner Oldham (Neil Young, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan), Larry McDonald (Toots & The Maytals, Taj Mahal), Teenie Hodges (Al Green, Memphis Rhythm Band), and Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Will Oldham).

Jukebox tracklist:
1. New York (Frank Sinatra)
2. Ramblin’ (Wo)man (Hank Williams)
3. Metal Heart (Cat Power *)
4. Silver Stallion (The Highwaymen)
5. Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson)
6. Lost Someone (James Brown)
7. Lord, Help The Poor And Needy (Jessie Mae Hemphill)
8. I Believe In You (Bob Dylan)
9. Song To Bobby (new song of Cat Power **) removed by label request
10. Don’t Explain (Billie Holiday)
11. Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)
12. Blue ( soulfull Joni Mitchell cover)

Labels: cover cover cover, new music

"Conquest" was released as the third single from the White Stripes' album Icky Thump in December 2007. It was released as a series of 7-inch colored vinyl singles, each containing the track "Conquest". The tracks "It's My Fault for Being Famous," "Honey, We Can't Afford to Look This Cheap" and "Cash Grab Complications on the Matter" appear on the black, white and red version of the records, respectively, with the latter featuring an acoustic Mariachi version of "Conquest". The various B-sides were co-produced by musician Beck, who also contributed vocals and piano to "Being Famous" and slide guitar to "Honey."

Each single includes a trading card featuring famous matadors El Sloth, El Bianca Rosa or El Perdador.

Tracklist:
1. Conquest
2. Its My Fault For Being Famous
3. Cash Grab Complications On The Matter
4. Honey, We Cant Afford To Look This Cheap
5. Conquest (Acoustic Mariachi Version)

Labels: cover cover cover, new music

Keane performing a cover of the famous Queen song, "Under Pressure". It's maybe not as good as the original, but it's a great cover, i can give my word. Keane grows on me each day, they're great pop band in my view. While covering songs like "Under Pressure", nobody can't make it better than the original version. As always i'm saying that Tom Chaplin has such an amazing voice and other members have such a good talent in playing music! So you should check out this!

Keane - Under Pressure (Queen Cover)

Labels: cover cover cover

Rating: 6.5/10
Darla is proud to offer a new record from Japancakes - Athens, GA's incomparable instrumental Pop/Americana quintet. If you asked me to cover a record, My Bloody Valentine's classic effort Loveless would be a perfect choice. Japancakes did smart job, yeah they did it. Because you can find all love within this record except Kevin Shields' voice. Drugy and cloudy opener Only Swallow melts in Japancakes' hands. It's decorated with bitter cello, also end of the song is amazing, it recalls Antony and the Johnsons Hope There's Someone final. Some of them worked like a charm. Some of them didn't work at all. For example, a Sometimes cover will always work, because it's a truly perfect composition of MBV. A cover record won't be perfect, never, anyway it's one of those nice instrumental record you can sleep by its side.

Japancakes - Only Shallow (MM Pick)
Japancakes - Sometimes

Labels: cover cover cover, new music

Ask Forgiveness is the name of the upcoming 2007 album by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. It is a covers album including one new, original song. Review coming soon.

Tracklist:

1. I Came Here to Hear the Music (Mickey Newbury)
2. I've Seen It All (Björk and Thom Yorke)
3. Am I Demon (Danzig (band))
4. My Life (Phil Ochs)
5. I'm Loving the Street (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy original)
6. The Way I Am (Mekons/Merle Haggard/Sonny Throckmorton)
7. Cycles (Frank Sinatra, written by Gayle Caldwell)
8. The World's Greatest (R. Kelly)

Labels: cover cover cover, new music

Part 2
Turn the Corners...
Your words have no meanings from this point, down on the street, seeing all those playing angels on the street. You can dream your favorite tune playing on the backround, if you have imagination. A dream can change everything, that time you can love whatever you want to love. Or, you break hearts which you wanted to break hard. Now you need bass guitars, strong lyrics then you can drink all night long. What could be so magicful? It's not possible listening music together, you should know that it plays only for you. Now you listen those great notas, they gave back your imagination. Once again you're happy even if music plays bitterly.

1. Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy - Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen)

2. Tim Hardin - It'll Never Happen Again

3. Blonde Redhead - Elephant Woman

4. Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers)

5. Cinerama - All the Things She Said (T.A.T.U. cover)

Check Part 1:
90s Romantic Songs

Labels: cover cover cover, playlist

"Gloomy Sunday" (from Hungarian "Szomoru Vasarnap", is a song written by the Hungarian
self-taught pianist and composer Rezso Seress in 1933. According to urban legend, it inspired hundreds of suicides. When the song was first marketed in the United States, it became known as the "Hungarian suicide song".There is no systematic substantiation for such claims, as it is not documented where any such allegations appear in press coverage or other publications of the time. The song was covered several times, and these are my favorite cover versions:

Labels: cover cover cover

Throwing your clothes to sofa, getting rid of dirt on your body, and turning up the volume of the song that makes you on cloud nine. Then something starts to change inside of you. Yes! I want to shout it loud, love this cover song very very much. Thank you Leonard Cohen, you're a genious and thank you Mr. Wainwright for representing this song wonderfully. "I'm Your Man" is a soundtrack album features Leonard Cohen covers in which you can find great Cohen covers by Antony, Beth Orton and Jarvis Cocker. 'Everybody knows, everybody knows, thats how it goes!'
mp3: Rufus Wainwright - Everybody Knows
...Also check out new Rufus album Release The Stars

Labels: cover cover cover

This saturday we all become romantic because of an upcoming record, i've just finished listening to "Stardom Road" by English artist Marc Almond. Most of you know his major effort on 80's disbanded Soft Cell with their amazing album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (Check out 80s section). This new album featuring Antony and the Johnsons, Jools Holland, Sara Cracknel of St. Ettiene and a 50 piece Orchestra, and also it's a favorite cover songs collection. Even if it sounds very cinematic, pastoral and susceptible sometimes, "Stardom Road" is a good cover collection. And here comes an amazing jazzy duet from Antony and Marc Almond. The song has been better than his collaboration with Bjork for Antony Hegarty.
mp3: Marc Almond - The Ballad of the Sad Young Men feat. Antony Hegarty (highly rec'd)
www.marcalmond.co.uk

Labels: cover cover cover, new music

Are We Nearly There Yet? is the tenth album by indie legends Television Personalities. It was released in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2007. The album features brand new tracks along with covers of Bruce Springsteen and The Killers. And We liked the cover of "Mr Brightside", there are many other great cuts in the album indeed. So what we should to do is to listen this nice record.
mp3: Television Personalities - Mr Brightside

The one i really enjoy on Are We Nearly There Yet? is "The Eminem Song", a real joy, and it's a great feeling to present this kind of amazing bands on your blog.
mp3: Television Personalities - The Eminem Song

Labels: cover cover cover

Thirdimension takes you beneath the surface, discovering another level to the music universe.
This isn´t just some high school band, this is a group on the day of graduation who are number one in their class. Oh, boy, will the connections never cease? Just go get yourself some good music like this.

This is the recent live record of swedish pop/ rock band pulling their influences from classic rock, britpop, psychedelia, and indie rock. The largely acoustic "Before the End Begins" is Thirdimension's most appealing album yet. A nice record for sundays.

mp3: Thirdimension - Where the Kids Try to Be Cool
mp3: Thirdimension - Dont fear the reaper / dream all day (Blue Öyster Cult and the Posies Cover)
mp3: Thirdimension - 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds (Jefferson Airplane Cover)

Labels: cover cover cover, Live Music

'Assembling a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris” required more than a few musical somersaults. Who can possibly surmount Joni’s rollercoaster vocal lines with all those odd syntaxes and off beat pronunciations? My final attempt was less homage and more deconstruction, unfortunately. But I was most unprepared for one unlikely obstacle: David Geffen.' says Sufjan.

‘A Tribute to Joni Mitchell’, the first major US tribute album to the legendary artist, is set for release on April 24th. Musicians from many genres are represented on the 12 tracks of both rare and quintessential songs from the revered and influential singer/songwriter’s expansive career.

There are also two striking covers in the tribute and they're Blue by Sarah McLachlan, Edith And The Kingpin by Elvis Costello. If you ask me the best cover is opening song “Free Man in Paris” by Sufjan Stevens. It really pictures meaningfull lyrics of the song which is originally written by Mitchell.
mp3: Sufjan Stevens - Free Man In Paris

Labels: cover cover cover

After Bryan Ferry's Dylanesque, the years' second major cover album comes as "Twelve" which is Patti Smith's first album of new studio recordings since Trampin' in 2004. This is included with some hit songs from rock artists such as Paul Simon, Nirvana, Jefferson Airplane, Neil Young, the Allman Brothers Band, Bob Dylan, Tears for Fears.

Definitely the songs love to be in Patti's hands, but songs don't deliver something very good or very bad. Mostly Patti's admirable sing style rescues herself from being at dull moments expect cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". This Nirvana cover has one of most dull moments in "Twelve", adding slow tempo to original energic rock song with a boring banjo. And Twelwe's best cover song is absolutely a classic by Jefferson Airplane, White Rabit. Plus "Pastime Paradise" which is originally by Stevie Wonder has been a great closing song. Album Available on April 24
MM picks: White Rabbit, Pastime Paradise
mp3: Patti Smith - White Rabbit

Labels: cover cover cover

They say Visage is Pioneers of the New Romantic movement, and i don't like classify music but they're truly romantic in somehow. "Fade to Grey: The Singles Collection" was released in 1994, and a great example of Visage's the most successful pieces and romantic alive and kicking music. Don't let the romantic disco music make you grey! Specially, there is an emotional cover song of Zager & Evans' "In the Year 2525" and a GREAT horizontally moving of bass Guitars along with sax, YEAH it's "Tar". Notably, Visage is one of the great founds in 80S. Now, New Wave time!
mp3: Visage - In the Year 2525 (originally by Zager & Evans)
mp3: Visage - Tar

Labels: 80s, cover cover cover

Wow! What a great cover album that another reason to fall in love with the voice of Bryan Ferry. This "Dylanesque" becomes my favorite cover album recently. The 11 songs are mostly classic mid-‘60s Dylan, but we can't say someone hey!, you should cover rarities not classic works. I love Bryan Ferry, so he's good at covering. Remember great Roxy Music cover John Lennon's Jealous Guy, it was terrific, wasn't it? Music melts by voice of the guy. Ferry's English language is so clear to recognize. And i love listening this record.

This is a rock-solid collection, far more suited to his fragile croon than the previous collection of covers, As Time Goes By (1999). It all proves that maybe Dylan was at the heart of Ferry’s muse, even back in 1972. Let’s hope he brings such energy to that Roxy album. BBC
mp3: Bryan Ferry - All Along The Watchtower

Labels: cover cover cover

It features a selection of 10 covers from throughout their career, which were previously only available on 2003’s ‘Sleeping With Ghosts’ limited edition bonus disc. This release follows the huge digital download demand for their cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, after it recently appeared in The O.C.

This is not a great cover album because the covers are neither different from original nor impressive. But there is a great cover of Big Star that you should have a listen. I think they should try something creative that will again captivate the listeners on their forthcoming projects.
mp3: Placebo - Holocaust

Labels: cover cover cover

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Some Says (2006)
One of the most beautiful cover record of last year "The Brave And The Bold" teaches us how a beautiful cover record should be. It's been more than one year, and i still love to listen this record. Thanks to Tortoise for bringing such glorious guitars, composings, thanks to Will Oldham for such a nostalgic voice. Definitely an essential work. This song originally performed by Melanie on Gather Me (1971).

Portishead - Requiem for Anna (2006)
It's another important cover record of 2006 under name "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited". It's included many well-educated artists; Marianne Faithfull, Cat power, Jarvis Cocker, Michael Stipe... I brought to your scene a moving cover from melancholy masters, Portishead.

Nouvelle Vague - Let Me Go (2006)
Personally i'm not big fan of cover bands, because they don't produce anything new. As for the Nouvelle Vague, they're a bit different. Listen the standout cover of Heaven 17 from "Bande A Part".

Wilco - Thirteen (2006)
This album was my favorite cover album of the last year. A bunch of great bands and mucisians are covering legendary rock band Big Star. I picked a Wilco version of Thirteen for you!

Owen Pallett - Peach Plum Pear (2006)
Joanna Newsom is classically trained, has a voice like Björk's infant sister and plays a harp. Owen Pallet is classically trained, plucks a violin and sounds like Thom Yorke's little brother. What could go wrong covering Newsom's "Peach, Plum, Pear?" Answer: nothing. Extra points to Final Fantasy for leaving-in whining microphone feedback over his string arrangement.

Labels: cover cover cover